Posts by mergen

Below is a text from a newsletter I recently received from Eurasia Capital. It is true that Japanese have been one of the most active early investors in Mongolia. While investments from China today make up for around 80% of foreign direct investment (FDI) in Mongolia (according to some resources), Japan is still a significant presence here in Mongolia. Enjoy reading.

Towards strategic partnership. Japan, Mongolia’s fourth largest trading partner, is seen by the Mongolian Government as an important player for the development of the resource-rich country. In order to reduce its reliance on its two neighboring superpowers, China and Russia, Mongolia is seeking a “strategic partnership” status with the world’s third largest economy. Japan has been supporting Mongolia since the early 1990’s by providing extensive financial and technical assistance worth over US$1.3bn and helping in key aspects of democracy and transition into a market economy. Currently, Japan is actively involved in assisting in developing rural areas, protecting the environment, improving infrastructure, supporting SMEs and developing institutional and human resources in Mongolia.

Hong Kong-listed Companies as Major Acquirers of Resource Assets in Mongolia. Over the last 12 months, Mongolia has become an attractive investment destination for the companies listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEx). Attracted by the country’s huge mineral resources, the HKEx-listed companies have become the biggest acquirers of Mongolia resource assets since the second half of 2009 ($966mn worth of M&A deals or over 90% of total).

An MPRP MP, Mr. D.Baldan-Ochir, has told reporters that he would soon submit a proposal for wide ranging changes in the tax system.

He wants all citizens to be included in a general data base, where everybody’s income and assets will be registered. No income can be concealed, putting an end to the rampant tax evasion and bribery in today’s Mongolian society. The database will also help in the efficient delivery of social welfare benefits.

Mongolians “hardly ever volunteer information” on their sources of income or pay taxes on their total earning, he claimed. A “tax education” program to raise popular awareness has been initiated in partnership with JICA. This will include school lessons on the tax system and the duty to pay taxes.

A series of discussions are planned with the civil society, government officials, citizens and professionals to devise practical suggestions on reforming the personal income tax system.

ULAANBAATAR – According to a working group, air pollution level of Mongolia’s capital city has increased by 28% despite efforts.

A working group led by MP D.Terbishdagva has found during its evaluation of the impact of programs aimed at reducing air pollution that only MNT8.2 billion was spent on them last year, despite a Parliamentary resolution in 2007 allocating MNT50 billion annually from the State budget. It also found that the pollution level, far from going down, has actually increased by 28%. The group has recommended more coordination among the organizations responsible for the work and has also called for more accountability.

The majority of respondents in a survey carried out by Sant Maral Foundation in April said unemployment is the main problem in Mongolia today.

While 38.6 percent held this view, 21.1 percent said the standard of living is the main problem, while 8 percent believe inflation is the key issue. The representative sample of 1,200 respondents from Ulaanbaatar and from Dornogobi, Dundgobi, Zavkhan, Khentii and Arkhangai aimags was collected from April 16 to April 23. The survey is sponsored by the Konrad Adenauer Foundation of Germany.

No agreement on the railway transportation policy is in sight. No decision can be taken on this very important part of the wider minerals policy as MPs continue to be stuck on both the direction of the new network and on the width of the track. Some MPs give their view.

S.Oyun: I think it would be wrong to have the same width everywhere. A combination would be a better option, depending on where the track is leading. Companies who are investing ought to estimate their needs. I would give more importance to economic factors than to political considerations when deciding on the railway policy. Similarly, the final choice of the route, whether it goes south or north or both ways will depend on the amount needed and the transportation benefits.

US Embassy seeks Mongolian applicants for Humphrey Fellowships and Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant Program for 2010-2012; application deadline is July 19.

The US Embassy in UB invites any interested Mongolian citizen living in Mongolia to apply for two available grant programs that provide up to one year study and professional experience in the US. The Hubert Humphrey Fellowship is a one-year, non-degree professional exchange program that brings mid-career professionals to the US. For further information, including application and eligibility requirements, go to http://mongolia.usembassy.gov/sholarship_announcements/test.html

The Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant Program (FLTA) for 2011-2012 brings Mongolian teachers of English, and other foreign English teachers, to the US for the 2011-12 academic years to strengthen foreign language instruction at US colleges and universities while providing foreign teachers of English with the opportunity to refine their skills, increase their English language proficiency and expand their knowledge of American culture and customs .The grant is for one academic year and is non-renewable. For further information, including application and eligibility requirements, go to http://mongolia.usembassy.gov/flta_announcement.html

Application deadline for both programs is 12 noon on July 19, 2010. Both programs are administered by the Public Affairs Section of the US Embassy, Big Ring Road, XI Microdistrict, Ulaanbaatar, UB – 13, P/O Box 1021, Telephone: 312372 or 329095 ext 4424 or 4729.

Sensitive financial issues were discussed at a “secret” meeting on Monday attended by members of the Standing Committee on the Economy, and representatives of the International Monetary Fund, the MongolBank, and the National Statistics Office. They talked mainly about the budget deficit and the threat of inflation.

The Finance Ministry has proposed revisions to the 2010 budget following the increase in the price of copper and gold. If this has meant MNT 364.2 billion in extra revenue, the decision to increase the salary of civil servants by 30 percent, and reinstatement of the child allowance will lead to more expenses. Some new public projects have also been proposed. Taken together, these will take the budget deficit beyond the proposed 5% of GDP as stipulated by the IMF.

Parliament last Friday approved the appointment of Mr. D. Dorligjav as the country’s Prosecutor General, with 92 percent of MPs accepting his nomination by the President.

Talking to reporters after the Parliament vote, Mr. Dorligjav said his priority will be to ensure that prosecutors at all times abided by the law. “Their main responsibility is to ensure that people’s legitimate expectations are met, and they must never lose sight of the fact that their power stems from the legal principles that they are expected to uphold,” he said.

People who have been sincere and conscientious will certainly not be disturbed. “Indeed, I shall offer them all assistance to be more effective. But I have already told Parliament I shall not retain those with problems of ethics and shall show no mercy to those who abuse their power and bring disrepute to the judiciary,” he told media. He clarified it would be wrong to blame prosecutors alone for all the problems in the judicial sector.

In an open letter to Prime Minister S. Batbold, two Democratic Party MPs, Hero of Mongolia E. Bat-Uul and Mr. Ya. Batsuuri, have lamented the unchecked growth of corruption, bribery, and bureaucracy in government organizations, greatly hindering economic progress and the development of a democratic ethos. If no corrective action is taken, the trend will eventually disgrace the nation on the international stage, they feel.

Political parties and leaders talk a lot about action against corruption during elections, but allow it to thrive when they are in a position to take remedial action. Hidden business deals involving high officials, their fingers in the pie in any major budgetary investments, and misuse and abuse of the funds of state owned businesses have got out of control and reached proportions that endanger national security. Citizens wait in vain for signs of official action, but there is no change in the authorities’ apathy.

Reminding Mr. Batbold that in a democracy people’s feelings cannot continue to be ignored, the two MPs have urged the Government to come out with a comprehensive statement on its stand on the matter. As a first step, they have said, companies and organizations like Erdenet Copper, Ulaanbaatar Railway, MIAT, and the Civil Aviation Authority of Mongolia should immediately have their accounts audited by firms with international exposure.

Mongolia has dropped from 55th place to 67th place out of 72 jurisdictions in the annual Survey of Mining Companies 2009/2010, released on April 15 by the Fraser Institute, one of Canada’s leading public policy think-tanks.

This is Mongolia’s lowest ranking since 2006. Mining industry executives rate Quebec as the world’s most attractive jurisdiction for mineral exploration and development for the third straight year

In the “policy potential index,” Mongolia was in the bottom 10 of 72 jurisdictions rated. Countries rated lower than Mongolia were the Congo (DRC), Zimbabwe, the Philippines, Ecuador and Venezuela. In 2008/2009, Mongolia ranked 55th out of 71, in 2007, 61st of 68, and in 2006-2007, 62nd of 65. California was also in the bottom 10 this year, ranked below Indonesia.

Several economists have expressed their reservation about the Government’s announcement that every Mongolian citizen will receive MNT1.5 million by 2012.

Mr. Ts. Demberel appreciated that both parties were in a bind, having made this the basis of their election campaign. However, it still will be unwise to distribute so much cash. “Most of this will end up in the hands of Chinese manufacturers, and a much better decision would have been to spend it on infrastructure that benefits all,” he said.

Finance Minister S.Bayartsogt has said that the total foreign debt of Mongolia has reached MNT2.8 trillion, equal to the whole annual state budget. Of this 31.7 percent is in USD, 26.5 percent in Japanese yen, 28.1 percent in euro and 13.7 percent in other currencies. He was speaking at a joint meeting of the Standing Committees on the Economy, on Security and Foreign Policy, and on the Budget which discussed a loan offer from Monaco, and a draft cooperation agreement with the Asian Development Bank for additional financing on a project to develop regional roads.

Both drafts were approved and would now go to Parliament, but several MPs expressed their unhappiness with aspects in both. Some felt that Monaco, with which diplomatic relations were established only two years ago, is offering assistance worth no more than MNT30 million only to help it join the European Union. The ADB loan carries a low interest but has preconditions which make it less acceptable than high interest loans. Mr. Bayartsogt stated that Mongolia will no longer take loans with such preconditions.